Many patients go to the dentist with the problem of changing the shade of the enamel. This defect is called "tetracycline teeth". How dangerous is this diagnosis, does it require specific treatment?
What is tetracycline?
Tetracycline is an active ingredient in many broad-spectrum drugs. Medicines with this substance are used in the treatment of pneumonia, ulcers of various etiologies, and skin rashes. For several decades, doctors could not understand why, after using a number of drugs, the enamel acquired a persistent yellow color in patients. Only in 1980 the concept of "tetracycline teeth" appeared. Everything turned out to be extremely simple. Tetracycline, entering the body, mineralizes with calcium, causing irreversible damage to the bone structure. A similar effect can only be obtained if the tissue is in the process of formation. For this reason, young children and pregnant women are at risk for this defect. Moderate intake of tetracycline does not threaten he alth. At high doses, the substance can cause hypoplasia.
Causes for the development of pathology
Tetracycline teeth appear only in one case - when taking drugs with the same component. The development of such a cosmetic defect can be facilitated by both oral and external use of medications. Enamel does not darken immediately, but over time. The specific period of manifestation of pathology depends on several factors. This is:
- individual characteristics of the body;
- food exposure;
- effect of ultraviolet rays;
- The body's response to the drug.
External signs
When taking drugs with tetracycline, the cumulative effect manifests itself in different ways. Enamel can take on a variety of shades, stain or completely change its color. Pathology usually begins to appear on the neck of the tooth or along its contour. When small doses of tetracycline enter the body, only the inner part of the enamel is stained. In the case of constant medication, the color of the teeth changes in a chaotic manner. For example, one canine is covered with stripes of a gray shade with yellow impurities, while the other remains unchanged. The color of the enamel itself can vary from poisonous lemon to brown. With the simultaneous use of products with coloring substances (coffee, wine), the shade of the teeth becomes dark gray.
Basic principles of treatment
Before starting a course of treatment, you need to make sure that the change in the shade of the enamel and other symptomswere caused by taking drugs of the tetracycline group. You should also exclude the influence of other factors that can change the color of the teeth. What does that require? The dentist conducts a visual examination of the dentition and examines the patient's history. One of the most effective diagnostic methods is the use of a UV lamp. Under its rays, areas in which tetracycline is present should be highlighted accordingly. After confirming the diagnosis, the doctor selects the therapy. Treatment of tetracycline teeth is a laborious process that includes several stages:
- professional cleaning;
- remineralization;
- fluorine coating;
- Cosmetological correction of a defect (whitening + restoration).
To achieve the maximum effect, treatment should be comprehensive. Let's consider each stage in more detail.
Professional cleaning
Professional cleaning involves a procedure to remove hard and soft deposits from the surface of the enamel. It contributes to more effective diagnosis, better penetration of drugs. Most of the procedures used in the treatment of this pathology are carried out in the absence of carious processes in the oral cavity. Therefore, before they begin, it is necessary to eliminate all dental diseases.
Remineralization
Tetracycline teeth, or rather spots on them, appear due to insufficient mineralization of the enamel. Replenishing the deficiency of these substances is importantcomponent of the course of treatment. To strengthen the enamel, preparations with fluorine, calcium and phosphorus are used. The standard course of treatment consists of 15 phono and electrophoresis procedures.
Fluoride coating
After remineralization, dentists recommend covering the teeth with fluorine varnish. This drug is a dark viscous liquid and consists of many components useful for enamel. After coating, a hard layer forms on the surface of the teeth. It protects the enamel from the effects of negative factors and the loss of minerals. Fluoride varnish is also designed to inhibit bacteria in the mouth that contribute to tooth decay.
Tetracycline Teeth Whitening
Reviews of dentists indicate that treatment with tetracycline staining should be aimed at strengthening the enamel and preventing its further destruction. Therefore, separately from the course of therapy, the elimination of a cosmetic defect is carried out. Depending on the degree of damage, whitening or restoration is used. Consider each option in detail.
Whitening (vital or internal) is recommended for uniform staining of the enamel. In the first case, a laser and a ZOOM lamp are used. With their help, you can lighten the enamel by about 10 tones, and the effect persists for several years. Laser whitening is considered the most gentle procedure. The doctor applies a special gel to the enamel, and then irradiates it with a lamp. At this time, the photosensitive coating begins to release oxygen, which contributes todiscoloration of pigments on the teeth. This procedure is absolutely painless. The duration of treatment is determined by the dentist, taking into account the degree of neglect of such a pathology as tetracycline teeth.
Whitening with a ZOOM-lamp is carried out as follows. First, hydrogen peroxide is applied to the enamel, and then irradiated with a special apparatus. This procedure is sometimes accompanied by discomfort and pain.
Internal bleaching is indicated when staining deep-lying tissues. In this case, drugs are injected into the pulp cavity. The choice of a specific method of cosmetic correction of a defect is determined by the doctor together with the patient. Each of them has both positive and negative reviews. The latter in most cases are due to the unprofessionalism of doctors and the low level of dental clinics. The cost of the procedure also plays a certain role in the choice. The use of a laser will cost about 10-12 thousand rubles, the use of a ZOOM device costs twice as much. For many, photographs of other patients who have undergone tetracycline teeth whitening become a decisive factor in their choice. Before and after each procedure, the shade of the enamel in such images is different, so you can draw certain conclusions about the effectiveness of a particular method.
Restoration
Restoration is indicated for partial damage to tooth enamel. Given the degree of staining and localization of stains, modern dentistry uses a photocomposite, veneers or a procedureprosthetics.
Photo composite is a special material that resembles resin in appearance. The composition is applied to the surface of the tooth, and then irradiated with a halogen lamp. Under the influence of light, the photocomposite hardens, forming a strong crust. Restoring with veneers requires a different approach. During this procedure, a ceramic plate is placed on the front surface of the tooth. This is a rather expensive method, but with its help it is possible to obtain the effect of a "Hollywood smile". In case of damage to the deep tissues of the tooth, when the listed correction options are powerless, prosthetics are used.
Summarize
Pigmentation on enamel is not always caused by the use of products with coloring components. Quite often, this problem is treated by patients after treatment with certain drugs. This article provides information on how to whiten tetracycline teeth. The choice of means and methods for implementing such a procedure is huge. Timely appeal for qualified help allows not only to restore a beautiful smile, but also to prevent the development of complications.
